Boom and tree shaker assembly



Jan. 7, 1964 F. w. TRIPLETT BOOM AND TREE SHAKER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet-1 Original Filed Aug. 31, 1959 INVENTOR. Hank 1a I'm dell zkw-a a/MsrJan. 7, 1964 F. w. TRIPLETT 3,115,535

BOOM AND TREE SHAKER ASSEMBLY Original Filed Aug. 31, 1959 I 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ihml Z0. i'hjaZe/z' [1 M (P WM- United StatesPatent Ofiice 3,116,585 Patented Jan. 7, 1964 3,116,585 BOOM AND TREESHAKER ASSEMBLY Frank W. Triplett, Stockton, Caiifi, assignor to A. D.Goodwin & Son, Inc., a corporation of California Original applicationAug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,074 now Patent No. 3,063,523, dated Nov. 13,1962. Divided and this application Oct. 1, 1962, Sex. No. 227,423

3 Claims. (Cl. 56-328) This application is a division of applicationSerial No. 837,074, (now Patent No. 3,063,523) filed August 31, 1959,for a Boom, and is directed specifically to a boom and shaker headassembly wherein a shaker head-which is turnably mounted at the outerend of an elongated sectional boom of the character shown in saidapplicationmay be effectively controlled from a point at the lower endof the boom and adjacent the operators seat on the tractor or othervehicle on which the boom is mounted.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide such a controlmeans as may be effectively connected with the turnable shaker head andsupported by the boom sections in such a manner as to not interfere withthe ready separation of the boom sections and their reassembly in arapid and elfective manner.

While the present application and the claims herein are directedspecifically to the combination of the boom and shaker head assemblywith the control means for the latter, it is deemed proper that asomewhat detailed description of the entire boom structure and therelationship thereto of the presently claimed invention should be setforth, as disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of the boom as includedin a tractor mounted tree shaking mechanism.

P16. 2 is a fnagmentary perspective view, exploded, of a representativelongitudinal portion of the boom; the view showing adjacent portions ofthe boom sections, and the parts which comprise the joint therebetween.

PEG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional plan view correspondingto FIG. 1, but showing the adjacent portions of the boom as assembled;the view being taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 and specifically disclosingthe separable connection for the shaker head control shaft.

FIG. 4- is a similar view, but is taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of PEG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the chanactersof reference marked thereon, the boom, which is of elongated sectionalform, is indicated general- 1y at 1; such boom being here shown (seePEG. 1) as embodied in a tractor-mounted tree shaking mechanism. At itsinner end, the boom 1 is transversely pivoted, as at 2,, on anupstanding part of a frame 33 secured to a tractor 4; there being aforwardly and upwardly inclined, elongated power cylinder 5 pivotallyconnected at its lower end to a forward part of the frame 3, as at 6,and pivotally connected at its upper end to the boom 1, as at 7. Thepower cylinder 5 serves the purpose of raising and lowering the boom 1.

The boom 1 is fitted with a shaker unit, indicated generally at 8, whichshaker unit is solenoid valve controlled and pneumatically actuated andis provided at its outer end with a reciprocable tree engaging head 9which in practice is preferably in the form of a yoke. The unit 3 isrotatable about a longitudinal axis at the outer end of the boom, andthe present invention is directed to the construction of a means tocontrol such rotation from a point adjacent the seat of the tractor 4 insuch a manner as to not interfere with the ready separation of the boomsections of the boom 1, which-in the present embodiment-includes aninner box beam section It and an outer box beam section 11 abutting atadjacent ends and detachably connected by a joint, indicated generallyat 12.

Each of the boom sections is and 1-1 is comprised of a pair ofelongated, initially separate, channel members 13 opening toward eachother and disposed in matching engagement; said members being weldedtogether top and bottom by longitudinal, central lines of weld, as at14.

At their adjacent or abutting edges, the channel members 13 include--inintegral relationinturned right angle flanges 15 which rest in abutment,and which flanges extend inwardly a limited distance. At their inneredges, the flanges 15-of each pair are formed with integral,longitudinally extending, inwardly divergent wings 16 which form cradles17. The cradles 17 open towards each other and are spaced apart.

A central pipe section 13 is disposed between and is rigidly support-edby the opposed cradles 17; such pipe section extending the full lengthof the related boom section.

At adjacent ends the boom sections 15;: and 11 are connected by thejoint '12, and which comprises the following:

Each of the boom sections it) and 11 is provided with an end plate 19'secured in place as by welding; there being wells 21 in the four sidesof each boom section immediately adjacent and opening to the back sideof such end plate 19. Each end plate 19 is formed with bolt holes 21which open into the wells 2d; the end plates 1% when the boom isassembledbeing secured together, in matching relation, by bolts 22 whichextend from the wells 2% of one boo-m section, through the matching boltholes 21, and thence into the wells of the other boom section, wheresuch bolts are fitted with retention nuts 23.

A gasket 24 is engaged between the end plates 19 when the same aresecured together, as above; the bolts 22 passing through holes 24a insaid gasket. The purpose of such gasket will hereinafter appear.

The central pipe section 18 in each of the boom sec tions 16 and 11opens through the related end plate 19, as at 25, and is suitablysecured in connection therewith; the pipe section terminating flush withthe outer face of the end plate. When the end plates 19 are securedtogether, the central pipe sections 18 in the boom sections 111 and 11are in register and in communication with each other; the gasket 24having a central circular opening 26 which matches the openings 25, andis of a diameter corresponding to the bore of the pipe section, as shownin FIG. 4.

It will thus be recognized that when the boom 1 is assembled, air underpressure can be transmitted without leakage through the boom, from itsinner end to the pneumatically actuated shaker unit 8 on its outer end,by means of the communicating pipe sections 13.

As the shaker unit 8 is solenoid valve controlled, it is necessary thatelectric wires run through the boom 1 from end to end thereof, and thisis accomplished as follows:

Each of the boom sections 1% and 11 includes thereinand in offsetrelation to the wells Zli-an electric wire enclosing conduit 27 whereinthe wires are shown at 28. Each conduit 27 opens through the related endplate 1%, as at 29, and is suitably secured in connection therewith; theconduits 27 being matching in communication when said end plates aresecured together, and the gasket 24 is provided with a correspondinghole 36. Thus, after the boom 1 is assembled, the electric wires 28 canbe run therethrough from end to end in the conduits 27.

As pointed out above, the shaker unit 8 is rotatably mounted about alongitudinal axis at the far outer end of the above described sectionalboom, and it is, of course, obvious that as a practical matter itsrotation should be controlled by the operator from a point adjacent theseat of the tractor 4. To this end there is provided a longitudinalshaft 31 which extends full length through the boom 1 and out of therear or lower end thereof, where such shaft is fitted with a hand wheel32; closely adjacent the seat of the tractor as shown in FIG. 1. Theshaft .31 is supported-at spaced points in the length of the boom 11,and in oifset relation to the wells 2@by means of rubberlined guidesleeves 33 supported by bracket plates 34.

At the joint 12 the longitudinal shaft 31 passes through matching holes35 in the end plates 19, and a corresponding hole 36 in the gasket 24.

In order to permit the boom sections 16' and 11 to be detached one fromthe other at the joint 12, the longitudinal shaft 31 includes-at a pointin its length and adjacent said joint-a separable connection 37 whichcomprises a socket 38 and a non-circular shank 39 slidably engaged insaid socket.

The boom 1, constructed as described, provides a very effective supportbetween the tractor 4 and the shaker unit 8 and provides for an adequateand practical control of the rotation of the shaker head 9 through themedium of the shaft 33 projecting therethrough from a point adjacent theseat of the tractor, and which shaft is so constructed that it will inno way interfere with the ready disassembly of the boom sections it) and11 at the joint 12 when necessary for transport of the boom from pointto point.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as will fully fulfill the objects of theinvention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrommay be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of theinvention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tree shaker assembly which includes a boom having a rotatableshaker unit mounted on and projecting from its outer end, the boomcomprising initially separate longitudinal hollow boom sections disposedend to end,

4 transverse end plates fixed on adjacent ends of the boom sections,detachable bolts securing the end plates together, a longitudinalcontrol shaft within the boom extending the full length thereof andconnected at its outer end to the rotatable shaker unit, there beingmatching holes in the end plates through which said shaft extends, theshaft comprising separate sections, one in each boom section, bearingsleeves for the shaft sections mounted in the boom sections adjacent theadjacent ends thereof, and a discngageable connection unit on theadjacent ends of the shaft sections between the bearing sleeves andarranged for engagement and disengagement upon corresponding relativemovements of the boom sections.

2. In a tree shaker assembly which includes a boom having an airactuated shaker unit mounted on and projecting from its outer end, theboom comprising initially separate longitudinal hollow sections disposedend to end, transverse end plates fixed on adjacent ends of the boomsections, means detachably connecting said plates together, a compressedair pipe unit extending along and within the boom from end to endthereof and connected at its outer end to the shaker unit, said pipeunit comprising separate and alined sections terminating at theiradjacent ends at and secured to the end plates in air-tight relation,the end plates having matching openings registering with the pipesections, and a gasket orificed to register with the plate openingssecured between the end plates.

3. A structure, as in claim 2, with rigid elements within the boomsections engaging and supporting the pipe sections against bending bothin horizontal and vertical directions; the pipe being of relativelysmall size compared to the interior dimensions of the boom sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,159,311 Berger May 23, 1939 2,804,743 Gould et a1. Sept. 3, 19573,013,374 Balsbaugh Dec. 19, 1961

1. IN A TREE SHAKER ASSEMBLY WHICH INCLUDES A BOOM HAVING A ROTATABLESHAKER UNIT MOUNTED ON AND PROJECTING FROM ITS OUTER END, THE BOOMCOMPRISING INITIALLY SEPARATE LONGITUDINAL HOLLOW BOOM SECTIONS DISPOSEDEND TO END, TRANSVERSE END PLATES FIXED ON ADJACENT ENDS OF THE BOOMSECTIONS, DETACHABLE BOLTS SECURING THE END PLATES TOGETHER, ALONGITUDINAL CONTROL SHAFT WITHIN THE BOOM EXTENDING THE FULL LENGTHTHEREOF AND CONNECTED AT ITS OUTER END TO THE ROTATABLE SHAKER UNIT,THERE BEING MATCHING HOLES IN THE END PLATES THROUGH WHICH SAID SHAFTEXTENDS, THE SHAFT COMPRISING SEPARATE SECTIONS, ONE IN EACH BOOMSECTION BEARING SLEEVES FOR THE SHAFT SECTIONS MOUNTED IN THE BOOMSECTIONS ADJACENT THE ADJACENT ENDS THEREOF, AND A DISENGAGEABLECONNECTION UNIT ON THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE SHAFT SECTIONS BETWEEN THEBEARING SLEEVES AND ARRANGED FOR ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT UPONCORRESPONDING RELATIVE MOVEMENTS OF THE BOOM SECTIONS.